Terrestrial Fauna

According to the IUCN Red List (2014), Jordan has 103 globally threatened species of fauna. The proportion of threatened species to the total number of species is very high, especially for mammals, where 13 out of 83 mammals 15.6 % are considered globally threatened. Jordan's location by the Great Rift Valley makes the country one of the most important flyways and resting points for migratory birds in the spring and autumn. Hundreds of thousands of birds cross the area yearly, some of which are globally.

In addition to mammals, a total of 106 species of reptiles occurred in Jordan where 6 of them are threatened. The high number of birds 436 is expected because of the Jordan’s location along the migratory route between Eurasia and Africa. The invertebrate fauna of Jordan is unique in many aspects since its composition is a mixture of several faunal origins, but due to lack of comprehensive research, the exact number of invertebrate species is unknown.

Several assessments published tackled Jordan’s fauna on the national, regional and international level. Mammals were assessed in the Mediterranean region including species from Jordan where a single species was listed as a critically endangered; Gazella subgutturosa. In addition, two species are endangered and eight are vulnerable. Moreover, several assessments from the Arabian Peninsula were published including snakes, birds, reptiles, and carnivores.